By Suzanne Sparrow Watson
Last week I had the privilege of witnessing something wonderful: the wedding of our grandson, Matthew. It seems like yesterday that our son-in-law rushed into the hospital waiting room and said, “I have a son!” We watched Matthew grow through pre-school, Little League, soccer, and high school. My husband was overjoyed when he chose to attend USC, graduating summa cum laude on my husband’s birthday. What a gift! While he was in college he met Brittany, the girl of his dreams, and last weekend was the culmination of a beautiful courtship.
The weekend started with a welcome dinner hosted by Steve and Wendy, held outside at the elegant La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, California. It was wonderful to see so many of Wendy’s friends, some of whom I hadn’t seen in many years. The weekend was also extra special for me because brother Bob and his wife Linda were in attendance. It was unusually warm for California (I thought I’d left that behind in Arizona!), but that didn’t stop us from dancing and singing late into the evening. It was clear after meeting Brittany’s family that Matthew and Brittany have wonderful role models in their parents for creating a loving and lasting marriage.
The wedding on Saturday was perfection. The ceremony was officiated by a friend of the family, Steve, who had known Matthew since he was two years old. As Brittany walked down the aisle, both sides of the family shed tears. She was beaming and beautiful and as Matthew watched her, his love and affection for her was evident to everyone. Steve did an outstanding job of talking about marriage: love, compromise and cherishing the everyday moments. The reception was held on a large patio at the resort, and it was outstanding in every way. The food was great, the disc jockey played fun music, and everyone was just so happy. Our youngest grandson Jake, (Matthew’s brother), gave a speech for the ages, filled with sentiment and love, but also some good-natured ribbing, as only brothers can do. When the music was required to stop at 10pm, many of us adjourned to the hotel bar. We weren’t ready to give up! But at midnight, when they flashed the lights, we knew the evening was over and we ended what turned out to be a perfect wedding day.
It was a very sentimental weekend, filled with such joy. Alan would have loved it, and I was touched that both boys wore his watches to honor him. I know he was there in spirit and sending his love to us all. Weddings quite naturally cause one to think about marriage. I had a long conversation with the officiant, Steve, who lost his wife Eden to cancer in 2023. I told him how much I had appreciated his talking to Matthew and Brittany about embracing the small moments in a marriage. When you marry the right person, it is the most special relationship possible. It’s someone with whom to share both good and bad news, it’s planning for the future, it’s knowing that when you walk in the door you have a person who is glad to see you. And sometimes, maybe a lot of times, it’s just sitting together in the comfort of your home, feet up, watching a movie, and being content. I told Steve that my favorite moments were the mornings, when Alan would fix coffee and we’d sit with Dash the Wonder Dog and talk about the day ahead. Steve said, “Yes, I tell my boys that it’s not just on the big occasions that I miss Eden, it’s feeling her toe touch my leg in the middle of the night.” Of course, marriage isn’t always a bed of roses, but overall, it’s a wonderful institution that should be cherished.
I am thrilled for Matthew and Brittany that they have found “their person” and are embarking on a wonderful life together. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for these two wonderful people. And I wish them many “small moments”.
A few more photos:
